Automobile-trailer.



UNTTED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADDI BENJAMIN CADMAN, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WARNER MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AU'roMoBILE-TRAILER.

Spedication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 191.6.

Application tiled January 7, 1916. Serial No. 70,725.

To nil 4whom. it 'may concern:

'Ile it known that I, Anni BENJAMIN Can- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of `\Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Trailers, of which the following is a specication,

This invention relates to a trailer cart adapted to\be hitched on to a suitable part, preferably the rear axle, of an automobile for carrying a load f freight or Athe like` In different makes of automobiles the height of the rear axle from the ground varies, and therefore the angle at which the tongue of the Ytrailer extends will depend upon the particular automobile to which it is attached.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a trailer in which the angular relation between the tongue and the body may he adjusted so that thctongue may be attached to different makes of automobiles and the proper adjustments may be made to maintain the body level. Y

The invention alsorefers to the manner of supporting or mounting the body of the trailer and to certain details of construction as will be understood from the following description.

In the accoxnpanying drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan view of an automobile trailer embodying the features of my invention` the forward portion of the tongue being broken off. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the trailer with parts in section, only a portion of the tongue being shown. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken in the plane of lino Il 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical scction on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a .scctional detail in the plano of line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

'lhe body l() of the cart may be. of any common or preferred construction, preferably being provided with fenders l1 and havingr a movable. end gate l?l pivoted at its lower edge at 18 and arranged to he tightly ockcd to prevent rattlingr by means of levers .4 pivotcd to oppositisidcs of thtl body and -ngagiugr cam hlm-ks l5 ou the end gate.

'l`lnx body is centrally supported upon an xh- It', having wheels 17 thereon by means hirh preferably comprise two springs 1S wort-d to the axle adjacent to said wht-cls 1d extending longitudinally of the body, c latter having suitabe brackets lf) att-ached to the ends of said springs. The forward end Aof the body is supported inv this instance .by a transverse spring '20 having its ends attached to Ybrackets 21 on vthe bodv, the mid-portion of said spring being secured to the tongue 22 by which the cart is drawn. In practice, the forward end of the tongue willhe provided with a universal joint-or coupling device (not shown) for attachment to the rear axle of an automobile. The rear end of the tongue is preferably secured to the axle 16 of the cart. i

In order that the body may be maintained levelin spite of an angular position of the tongue when attached for use, means is provide-d for adjusting the. angular relation of the tongue and the body. The adjustment may be made at the rear end of the tongue, or at thc point of connection between the forward end of the body and the tongue. In the present instance, .the adjustment is made at the rear cud of the tongue, and to accommodate such adjustment a pi votalc'onncctiou is provided between the forward end of thc body and the tongue. This pivotal connection may be of various forms, that herein shown comprising aA plate 23 secured to the spring by U-bolts '24 and having an apertured lug 25 which ovcrla ps and lics^lietween two ears 26 secured to the tongue 22, said `lugr and ears being pivotally connected by a suitable p'ivotfpin 2 to permit vertical rocking movement of the tongue.

The meausjfor adjusting the tongue comprises, in the preferred form, a bracket .28 having a split bearing portion :Ztl which is adapted to be clamped rigidly to the axle 1li by means of'aholt Il() engaging ears at opposite sides of the slot in the bearing 2t), and a bracket ill rigidly fixed to and depending from the rear end of the tongue 22, said brackets' having arcuate faces to abut against each other, the faces being struck on an arc with the pin 27 as a center. Means is provided for clamping the brackets 2.8 aud 3l rigidly together in different positions, said means preferably comprising a U-bolt 32 embracing the depending portion of the bracket 28 and having its branches passing through apertures in the bracket Illand pro.

vided with clamping nuts 33 to bear against thel latter.

.ln use, if it is necessary to adjust the trailer to the autnmud with which it is to be used, the nut-s are loosened, the tongue A true horizontal position, and the nuts 233 are then tightened to rigidly clamp the brackets Qt and 31 together.

The specific details ofv the preferred einbodiment of my invention have been herein described, but without any intention of lin1 itinglthe invention to the form disclosed, since various modifications and equivalents are possible. Thescopeof the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as lny invention:

1. An automobile trailer having, in eombination, a body, an axle provided with two supporting wheels, two springs extending longitudinallyof the body and rigidly secured between their ends to said axle, the ends of said springs being connected to the bodyl for supporting the latter, a third spring extendingotransversely beneath the forward end of the body and having its ends connected to the body, Aa tongue extending beneath the body, means connecting said tongue to the xnidportion of said third spring and allowing the'tongue to rock on a horizontal axis, a bracket fixed to the rear end of said tongue, another bracket fixed to the central part of said axle, said brackets having abutting faces'struck on an arc with said horizontal axisas a center, and boltand-nut means for rigidly clamping said brackets together in different adjusted positions, whereby the angular relation between the tongue and the body-may be varied.

2, An automobile trailer having, in con1- bination, an axle rovided with two supporting wheels, a ody supported between its ends on said axle, a tongue extending beneath the body, a pivotal connection between the tongue and the forward portion of the body permitting the tongue tol rock on a horizontal axis, a bracket fixed to the rear end of the tongue, another bracket fixed to -end of the tongue and having its rearoiost face of arcuate forni, another bracket fixed to the axle. and having its 'foremost face of i;

arcuate form, said arcuate fa abutting and being concentric with said horizontal axis, and means for rigidly clamping the. abutting arcuate faces of said brackets together in adjusted. relation to vary the angle between the tongue and the body.

4. An automobile trailer having, in combination, a body, an axle provided with two supporting wheels, two springs extending longitudinally of the body and rigidly secured between their ends to said axle, the ends of said springs being connected to the body for supporting the latter, a third spring extending transversely beneath the forward portion of the body and having its ends connected to the body, and a tongue extending centrally beneath die bod y and secured at its rearend to said axlcfthe tongue being also secured to the mid-portion of said transverse spring, whereby the forward end of the body is supported bv lhe tongue` In testimony whereof, I hand.

hereunto set my Anni BENJAMIN CADA-MN.'

In the presence of- Mxunmaixn VJOLL, IDA I. VVAnu. 

